70 Comments
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Judith Hannah Weiss's avatar

I love the magnolia...undressing herself...

Sue Sutherland-Wood's avatar

Yes! Same!

Abigail Thomas's avatar

She was tired of waiting. Thanks, Judy.

Susan OBrien's avatar

Oh, wow!!! WHAT a last line!!! A master stroke of the mind and pen. Thank you, Abby.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

You made me grin, my dear.

Mary Anne & Richard Erickson's avatar

So beautiful Abigail. We are all waiting for these magical moments of release! Dearest Mother Nature continues to provide us with inspiration to carry on despite the horror we see happening on the news. Last week I heard the Canadian geese flying high high above in a huge V that stretched across the whole sky. I ran outside with tears streaming down my face. There they are - our beacons of light. Showing us that the natural world still provides hope for the future. They haven’t been destroyed yet. I went back inside and then I heard another round of them. And then another and then another. There must have been thousands. I was stunned and felt such a deep gratitude that these dear creatures have still endured. Spring returning and the crocuses popping through the sad remains of snow remind us that there are greater forces governing our lives. Let’s hope all our better angels convene to bring us back into alignment with our precious natural world and cycles.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Lovely, those geese. So moving, what you wrote here. Thank you.

Maureen C. Berry's avatar

Okay, I just spit these words aloud/out loud? to an empty room—the fuck! how do you do this? wow, then I realized you might be offended and your readers too, ack! but yet, the force of the words, to let you know…I mean, extreme appreciation and respect. Wow, yes Abby, thank you. xo

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Offended? No, grateful. Maureen. Thank you.

A CRONE WITH A BOTTLE. Or two.'s avatar

so beautiful!

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Thank you vey much.

Rona Maynard's avatar

Your last line shook a petal-shower of assumptions out of my head. Each one was something I thought was mine.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Me too. But clarity is worth it. At best, we are caretakers. Right?

Linda S Clare's avatar

Oh Abigail, I love this. It's my birthday and I'm going to tell myself you wrote that for me. Thank you. Linda Clare at The Deep End

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Happy Birthday! It's yours!

Jen Knox's avatar

Yes, yes, yes!

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Thanks very much.

Kathy Napoli's avatar

Beautiful

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Thank you, Kathy.

✨ Prajna O'Hara ✨'s avatar

Beautiful naked smile 😊

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Thank you, Prajna. So glad yo liked it,

Marilea C. Rabasa's avatar

What lovely imagery. Such a great wordsmith, Abby.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Thank you. Just out my window.

John Hammond's avatar

I like this so much, Abigail! "The hydrangea with flowers pointed toward heaven They look like prayers." Just beautiful.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Thank you, John. Very good window.

Stephanie Foster's avatar

It’s magnolia time in the South. Oooh, looking down from Minnesota and smiling about Aunt Fran’s magnolia tree in Kentucky

Abigail Thomas's avatar

I bet it's a beauty.

Meg Robson Mahoney's avatar

The poem--a delightful surprise, following my concern over the title. Mistaken in a good way.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

In a good way, yes. Thank you.

Lisa Cottrell's avatar

I love the hydrangeas looking like prayers. Beautiful, dear Abby! 🥰

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Thnak you, Lisa.

Tina Rogers's avatar

This was a heavenly bloom of words.

Abigail Thomas's avatar

Thank you, and what a lovely bloom of words.